Trends in Drug Tests among Children: A 22-Year Retrospective Analysis

Area of Science:

• Substance abuse research
• Neonatal and maternal health
• Pediatric toxicology

Background:

• Substance abuse presents significant health risks, including metabolic, neurodegenerative, and redox imbalances.
• Drug use during pregnancy poses developmental risks to fetuses and complications for newborns.
• Understanding drug use patterns in young children and mothers is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the trends in drug use among children aged 0-4 years and their mothers.
• To analyze changes in the types of substances detected via urine drug screens (UDS) over time.
• To identify demographic differences in drug use patterns.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of UDS results from LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport (LSUHSC-S) between 1998-2011 and 2012-2019.
• Data included children aged 0-4 years and neonate mothers.
• Statistical analysis performed using R software.

Main Results:

• Cannabinoid-positive UDS results increased in both Caucasian (CC) and African American (AA) children from 1998-2011 to 2012-2019.
• Cocaine-positive UDS results decreased in both cohorts.
• CC children showed higher positive UDS for opiates, benzodiazepines, and amphetamines, while AA children had higher rates for cannabinoids and cocaine.
• Maternal UDS trends mirrored those in children during 2012-2019.
• A shift from opiates, benzodiazepines, and cocaine to cannabinoids and/or amphetamines was observed in maternal drug use.

Conclusions:

• There is an evolving pattern of substance use among pregnant women and young children, with a notable increase in cannabinoid and amphetamine use.
• Demographic differences exist in the types of drugs detected.
• Early drug exposure in children warrants continued monitoring and intervention strategies.